Abdul Qadir Mahesar
DADU: Dadu traders staged a protest against extended power outages during Ramazan, accusing the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) of failing to implement government directives and restore adequate electricity supply. Business leaders said the situation had worsened daily life and commercial activity, especially during the holy month.
According to the protesters, electricity is being supplied for only about four hours in a 24-hour cycle, while load-shedding stretches up to 20 hours. They said repeated meetings with SEPCO officials had not produced any meaningful improvement, leaving markets and shops in prolonged darkness.
Ahmed Khan Zunair, president of Anjuman Tajiran District Dadu, said traders were paying heavy electricity bills and holding commercial meters, yet were still not receiving reliable power. He alleged that inefficiencies and alleged corruption within the system had further deepened the crisis.
Chairman of the traders, Ghulam Nabi Laghari, said prolonged outages had severely disrupted business operations, with entire markets forced to shut down early or operate in low-light conditions. Syed Hamid Shah, president of the Mobile Market, added that commercial activity had been significantly affected, with customers reluctant to visit dark and poorly lit shopping areas.
Zunair further alleged that certain local officials had remained in their positions for years and were allegedly involved in electricity theft, which he said contributed to the overall mismanagement of the power supply system.
Trader representatives demanded the immediate removal of allegedly corrupt officials and called for the appointment of transparent and efficient staff to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. They warned that if the issue remained unresolved, they would launch a wider protest movement after Eid against SEPCO officials.
